Amusement device.



/PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906.

W. N. HASLETT.

AMUSBMENT DBVIGE.

ArrLroATxoN FILED rma. as. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR.. Unai/(f /mycb 6 l 1 I I Il Munari: rtrllu co., wnmnmon, n. c

PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906.

Nw. yN. HZASLETT. AMUSEMENT DEVICE. APPLIUATIQH IILBD 1113.25. 1905.

2 BHEBTB-SEBBT 2.

WITNESSES.

' U'Nri sie sr aras PATENT OFFICE.

AMUSENIENT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2l, 1906.

Application led February 25, 15905. Serial No. 247,361.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER N. HAsLET'r, a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Amusement Devices and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to amusement devices; and its object is to provide a device that combines features of merry-go-rounds, flying-horses, roller-coasters, and the like, and especially one which ives all of the movements, sensations, an impressions of a boat on rough water.

Amusement devices such as flying-horses, merry-go-rounds,'roller-coasters, and the like give various motions or movements to the persons. These devices carry the passengers in a forward or circular course and subject them to various rising, falling, and rocking movements, but no one device will give all of these movements. There have also been in use devices which -carry the passengers around on a boat or the like and endeavor to give the sensations of traveling on the Water, but generally these latter kind have been free from rising, falling, and rocking movements, heretofore obtained only in a boat.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which will give all of the movements, sensations, and impressions of a boat on rough water and which gives all of the movements and sensations of rising, falling, rolling, and pitching or plunging incident to merrygo-rounds, ying-horses, roller-coasters, seesaws, and the like combined in one.

To the accomplishment of the foregoin end, the invention consists, generally state in a passenger carrier or receiver having the representation of a boat or the like, together with suitable mechanism for either carrying said boat forwardly or holding the same comparatively stationary, and at the same time imparting thereto a rising, falling rolling, pitching, and plunging movement similar to the movements imparted by waves to a boat.

The invention consists in various details of construction and arrangement whereby the foregoing results are obtained, as well as for increasing the illusion of a ride in a boat.

In the accompanying drawin s, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved evice. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2 2,

Fig. 1. F ig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view longitudinally' of the car which carries the boat, andl Fig. 4 is a view transversely thereof.

rIlhe passenger carrier or receiver 1 will `be in theY representation of a boat, preferably a small-sized sail-boat, as shown in the drawings. The invention, however, is not limited in this particular. This boat will be mountedon` a suitable car 2, provided with wheels 3, restin on a revolving track or platform 4, having ifferent portions thereof at different hei hts, so that when said track is revolved an the boat held relatively stationary the boatV will alternately rise and fall and pitch, plunge, and roll. As shown in the drawings, this track 4 is inclined from one side edge to the opposite, soithat in one revolution thereof the boat will receive only one lift and one drop. If desired, however, this track may be made undulating or irregular in any suitable Way, so as to give any desired number of lifts and drops to the boat for each rotation of the track. This track will be suitably mounted on a revolving carriage or platform 6, provided with wheels 7 running on a track 8, and driven in anv suitable way, such as by means of a power-driven gear 9, engaging an annular rack 1() on said carriage.

Preferably the track 4 will be adjustable on the platform 6, so that the amount of risc and fall of the beat may be varied. This may be effected in various ways. As shown in the drawings, said track is trunnioned at 11 on standards 12, three such trunnions being shown in Fig. 1, one on either side and one in the middle. At right angles to these trunnions suitable adjustable connections are provided between the track l and carriage 6, these connections comprising on the high.

` side of the track an ordinary turnbucklc 14,

having one end connected to the carria e and the other to the track or platform. n the low side I have provided a threaded rod 15, having an adjusting-nut 16. By properly ad'usting the turnbuckle 14 and nut 16 the inclination of the track 4: may be varied, thereby varying the amount of rise and fall which will be imparted to the boat. Any other suitable adjusting means may be provided.

In order to give the desired movement to the boat, it is necessary that the boat does not move in the same direction and at the same speed as the track 4. I therefore either hold the boat stationary or move it either at IOO a lesser speed or in the opposite direction, or l to rock, but do not permit the same to move both, from the movement of the track 4. In any event the boat and track will have movement the one with reference to the other. As shown in the drawings, the boat is connected by means ol' tow-lines 1S or other suitable connectors to an annular carriage or towpath 19, provided with. wheell.` 20, ruiming on a traek .21 and being rotatable by any suitable mechanism, such as by a driven gear meshing with a rack 23, formed on said ring. A suitable clutch, such as indicated at 24, will be provided for controlling the movement of the ring 19. If this ring be held stationary, the boat will remain stationary; but, if desired, the ring may be driven in either direction, so as to carry the boats around slowly, the speed. however, being less than the speed of the rotating track 4 and preferably in the opposite direction.

As shown in the drawings, both the carriage 6 and ring 19 are driven from the same motor by suitable intermediate gearing, and this is so arranged that the ring 1.9 will be driven in the direction opposite to the movement of the track 4.

I need employ only a single boat, but prefer to employ two or more, two being shown in the drawings, so that the apparatus will be balanced and subject to less friction. A suitable landing-platform 27 will be provided in any suitable place at one side and projects over the apparatus, so that the passengers can therefrom enter or leave the boat. If necessary, a gang-plank may be used. The rotation of the ring 19 is necessary in order to bring all boats around to this landing-platform, so as to load and unload. The clutch 24 will permit of the ring 1.9 being rotated for this purpose. At all other times the ring 19 may remain stationary, if desired; but it is preferred to rotate the same slowly, so that the boats will have a forward movement as well as the usual rolling and pitching.

In order to eliminate the sensation of the wheels and machinery underneath the boats, I mount them on the cars 2, so that no sensa- .tion of the or wheels will be communicated to the boat. This I accomplish by interposing a suitable cushion between the boat and car. As shown in the drawings, the car is formed practically as a rectangular boX open on the top, and to the bottom of the boat is connected a block 30. Interposed between this block and the ioor of the oar are a series of coiled or helical springs 31, which carry the entire weight of the boat and passengers. Also interposed between the end of the block 3() and the end pieces 32 of the car are spiral springs 33, which cushion the pitching movement of the boat. In order to provide for a rocking movement, the block 30 is provided at its ends with trunnions 34, moving in guideways at the ends ofthe oar. These trunnions permit the boat sidewise in the box of the car. This rocking movementl is cushioned by the springs 31. In order to limit the amount of rocking movement and revent the boats from overturning, the bfiick 3() is provided on each side with projections 36, extending underneath rails or cleats 37 on each side of the box, these projections and cleats preventing the boat from rocking too far and overturning. The two or more boats preferably will be connected by any suitable cross connecting member or frame 40 of any suitable construction, that shown comprising bars connected to the end portions of the cars and extending cntirely across from side to side, together with shorter bars connecting the two long bars near their middle portions. This frame preferably will be )ivotcd at its center on a kingpin 41, rising rom the center of the platform 4, thereby preventing the cars 2 from leaving the tracks on which they run.

To heighten the illusion of a real trip on Water, I connect the boats 1 with the ring or tow-path 19 by means of a sheet of canvas 43, which will be given the color of sea-water and which will entirely conceal the mechanism underneath. The landing-platform 27 projects over this canvas. This canvas will extend out to the base of a stationary structure 44, but will not be secured thereto. This structure may be either the Walls of a room or any other suitable stationary structure, which preferably will be painted to represent a sea-shore or banks of a lake, river, or the like. As a consequence the passengers will be surrounded by water scenes entirely, and as the boats will have all ofthe movements of a boat on the waves and these movements being cushioned so that no effects of themachmery underneath will be felt practically all of the sensations of an actual trip on the Water will be realized.

The operation of my apparatus will be readily understood from the foregoing descri tion. The motor 25 will be provided wit 1 any suitable controlling means, which, as well as the controlling means for the clutch 24, will preferably be located near the landingplatform 27 or other convenient place, so that a single person can handle the entire apparatus` While the boats are being loaded or unloaded the ring 19 will remain stationary with one boat in front of the landing-platform. When it is desired to load or unload the other boat, the rin 19 will be rotated suiiiciently to brin said oat in front of the landing-platform. he tracks 4 may be kept in continuous rotation, if desired, even when the boats are being loaded and unloaded. Preferably, however, the motor 25 will be stopped during the loadin and unloadin The ring 19 may be rotated at all times etween the loadings and unloadings either continuously or intermit- IOO IIO

tently, but this movement Will be comparatively slow, so that the boats will have a slovi7 forward m overeen t.

Various modifications may be made in the details of the mechanismwithout departing from the spirit of my invention. Many auxiliary or additional means may be employed to heighten the illusion,

What l claim isl l. In an a-nusement device, thecombination of an endless track or platform having portions of different heights and lying in an inclined plane, mechanism for rotating said track or platform, a car resting on said track or platform, and a passenger-carrier yieldingly supported. on said car in such manner as to rock both sidewise and endwise.

In an ai'nusement device, the combination of an endless track or platform having portions of different heights and lying in an inclined plane, mechanism for moving said track or platform, a member or ring, passenger-carriers connected to said member or rin and resting on said track or platform, an( leans for moving said member or ring independently of the track or platform,

3. ln an amusement device, the combination of an endless track or platform having portions of different heights and lying in an inclined plane, mechanism for rotating said track or platform, a :arresting on said track or platform, a passenger-carrier yieldingly supported on said car in such manner as to rock both sidewise and endwise, a ring, mechanism for rotating said ring independentlyv of the track or platform, and means for connecting said ear to said ring.

4. ln an amusement device, the combination of an endless track or platform having portions of different heights and lying in an inclined plane, mechanism for rotatingr said track or platform, a peripheral ring, a passenger-carrier connected to said ring and resting on Said track or platform, and mechanism for rotating said ring at a different speed from said track or platform.

5. ln an amusement device, the combination of an endless track or platform having portions of different heights and lying in an inclined plane, n'iechanism for rotating said track or platform, a peripheral ring, a passenger-carrier connected to said ring and resting on said track or platform, and mechanism for rotating said ring in the opposite direction from the movement of said track or platform.

6. In an amusement device, the combination of a track or platform having portions of different heights and lying in an incli'ned plane, mechanism for moving the same, a car resting on said track or platform, a passen.- ger-carrier mounted on said car in such a manner as to rock both sidewisc and cndwise, an endless member located outside of said passenger-carrier and connected thereto, a

fabric connecting said member and carrier, and driving mechanism acting on said endless member.

7. In an amusement device, the combination of a track or platform having portions of different heights and lying in an inclined plane, mechanism for moving said` track or platform, a plurality of cars resting on said track or platform, a passenger-carri er mounted on each of said cars in a manner to rock both sidewise and. endivise, an endless memher outside of and connected to said carriers, a fabric connecting said member and earriers, driving mechanism acting on said endless member, and a landing-platform projecting over said member into proximity to the path of the carriers.

8. In an amusement device, the combination of a track or platform having portions of different heights and lying in an inclined plane, mechanism for rotating said track or platform, a car resting on said track or platform, a passenger-carrier mounted on said car in such manner as to rock both sideivise and endwise, and means for cushioning the movement of said carrier on the car.

9. In an amusement device, the combination of a track or platform having portions of different heights, mechanism for rotating said track or platform, a car resting on said track or platform, a iiassenger-carrier, springs supporting said carrier on said car, and other springs arranged to cushion the endvvise movement of said carrier on said car.

l0. ln an amusenu-mt device, the combination of a track or platform having portions of different heights, a car resting on said track or platform, a passenger-carrier mounted on the track or platform by means of trunnions having their axes arranged longitudinally of the carrier and car and being free to move vertically, means for cushioning the movement of said carrier with reference to said car, and mechanism for moving said car and track or platform with reference to cach other. A

11. In an amusement device, the combination of a track or platform having portions of different heights, a car resting on said track or platform, a passeriger-carrier mounted on said car and having trunnions with their axes arranged longitudinally of thc car and free to move verticallv s )rines su mortinT said carrier on said ear, other springs arranged to cushion the cndwise movement of said carrier on said car, and mechanism for moving said car and track or platform with reference to each other.

l2. ln an amuscmen t device, thc combination of a rotating carriage, a track thereon having portions of different heights and lying in an inclined plane, means for varying the heights of different portions of said track, a car resting on said track, a passcnger-carrier mounted on said car in such a manner as to IOO IIC

be free to rock, cushioning means interposed between said ear and carrier, and mechanism for moving said car and track with reference to each other. l

13. In an amusement device, the combination of a passenger-carrier7 a ear to which said carrier is connected by means of trunnions lying longitudinally of the carrier and having movement vertically, springs interposed between the bottom of the carrier and the ear and restraining vertical and rocking movement of the carrier, other springs intery posed between the carrier and the car and arranged to restrain endwise movement of the carrier, a track or platform having portions of different helghts on which. sald car rests,

and mechanism for moving the ear and track or platform relatively to each other.

14. In an amusement device, the combina tion of a rotating carriage, a platform or track hinged. thereto and disposed in an inclined position, means for adjusting the inclination of said track or platform, a passenger-carrier resting on said track or platform, and means for .moving said carrier independently of said track or platform.

In testimony whereof I, the said TALTER N vI'lAsLnrT7 have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER N. HASLETT.

Witnesses ROBERT C. TOTTEN, G. KREMER. 

